Cleaning machine



July 7, 1942.

J. T. HARRlsoN CLEANING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1940 xNVENToR Ja/za Ihr/lisait NQ lla ATTORNE 1 Patented July 7, 1942 UNI"T'ED,STATES PATENT OFFICE CLEANING MACHENE John'. Harrison, Hasbrouck Heights, N. J. Application .lune 22, 194i), Serial No. 341,837

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for cleaning floor and similar surfaces and more particularly to effecting such cleaning without the use of strong detergents.

At the present time it is the common practice in cleaning oors of extensive area to employ rotary scrubbing brushes operated over the floor which has been previously wet and sprinkled with a strong alkali scouring powder or similar detergent. Cleaning in this manner requires the use of a substantial cleaning force, it being necessary to have one man precede the machine with a wet mop to dampen the floor, a second man to apply the scouring material, a third man to operate the vscrubbing machine, a fourth man following the machine to mop up the scouring solution, a fifth man to rinse the floor to remove the alkali, and a sixth man to dry the floor following the rinsing. The use of strong detergents is also objectionable since the alkali attacks the surface of the floor and, due to the abrasive action of the same in combination with the stiff brushes employed, not only remove the dirt from the floor but also all of the surface fmish of wax, as well as a part of the surface of the floor itself. In the case of linoleum or similar composition floor coverings subject to frequent cleaning in this manner, this abrasive action roughens the surface, destroys the natural gloss thereof and materially shortens the life of the material. It is common, moreover, to apply li noleum and other compositions to the oor in the form ofindividual blocks which arecemented in place. With such construction the alkali detergents soak in between the joints of such blocks, gradually widening the joints and loosening the adhesive underneath vthe blocks. Since this method of cleaning completely removes all of the wax finish from the floor, it is necessary to rewaX, following the cleaning, usually by the application of two or more coats. of wax,

One of the objects of the present invention is to avoid the use of such alkali scouring detergen-ts, and the employment of Alarge' amounts of water during the cleansing operation.

Another object of theA invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for cleaning oors and similar surfaces which will be effective to prolong the life of such surfaces.

A still further object is eliminating the necessity of employing a large force ,of cleaners and, if necessary, to enable the floor tofbe cleaned by a single operator.

A further object is to produce a method of cleaning floors which will be simple, convenient, inexpensive, and rapid.

A still further objectis toiprovide apparatus for cleaning floor surfaces in which the wax nish applied thereto is removed to a minimum extent.

Other objects and advantages will hereafter appear.

"In accordance with the present invention, I dispense with the usual rotary brushes employed in floor cleaning machines and substitute in place thereof a pad or disc of sponge rubber. The rubber is recessed or otherwise shaped and applied to the face of the cleaning machine so as to provide pockets for the reception of a mild scouring and absorbing medium such as damp sawdust. A means is also provided for supplying the desired quantities of water to the floor beneath the cleaning pad. With a cleaning pad constructed as herein described the water serves to soften the dirt and waX on the surface of the floor, the sponge rubber exerts an erasure effect on the softened dirt and waX, loosening the same from the surface of the floor and the sawdust acts both as a mild abrasive, to further loosen the dirt and waX, and as an absorbing medium for the moist dirt and wax so loosened. In the operation of a machine provided with the foregoing cleaning pad, it is only necessary for a single operator to run the machine over the floor to be cleaned, although if desired the machine may be followed by a second man with a damp mop for the purpose of picking up any dirt which may not have been completely absorbed by the sawdust. On a waxed floor, the machine serves to remove only the surface layer of the wax in which the dirt is embedded so that following the cleaning operation the floor will still be found to have a protective coating of wax. This may be augmented after the cleaning operation by a single succeeding waxing operation.

The invention will be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical view partly in section of a cleaning machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View of the machine with the cleaning pad detached therefrom;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the cleaning pad, being a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the cleaning pad taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring iirst to Fig. 1, I have shown a cleaning machine comprising a carriage lil provided with suitable wheels or rollers upon which it may be supported to facilitate movement thereof. A shaft I2, xed to the carriage I0, is provided wtih a handle (not shown) for manipulation of the machine over the floor to be cleaned The carriage l0 is provided with a circular housing I3 upon which is mounted a motor |4. The shaft I5 of the motor |4 extends through the upper wall of the housing I3 and is provided, within the housing I3, with a drive pinion I6, meshing with a gear having a shaft |8 journaled in a bearing I9 in the housing. The gear I7 is secured to a anged disc 2| adapted to enclose the pinion IE5 and gear I to protect them from the entrance of dirt. The disc 2| rotates with the gear I'I. Removably secured to the disc 2|, in any convenient manner, as by the bayonet type clips 22, 23 is a disc 24, preferably of wood, to which is secured the scrubbing pad 25 forming the subject of this invention. This pad, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, consists of a disc of sponge rubber of appreciable thickness having a number of recesses 26 cut therethrough. The sponge rubber disc is secured to the wooden disc 24 in any desired manner, as by a layer of cement 21, and if desired, also by means of wire staples 28, as shown in Fig. 4. An opening 29 extends through the sponge rubber pad 25, the discs 24 and 2| and the gear I'l. Also mounted upon the housing I3 is a tank 30 which may contain a suitable moistening liquid, such as water. The tank 30 has a conduit 3| extending from the base thereof through the central opening 29 to permit the feeding of water to the oor centrally of the pad. The conduit 3| is provided with a suitable valve (not shown) contained within the valve casing 32 and operated through a valve stem 33 by means of the valve lever 34.

In the operation of the machine, the recesses 26 of the sponge rubber pad 25 are packed with moist sawdust and the pad is rotated over the surface of the oor by means of the motor I4, during which time water may be fed to the oor, as required, through the conduit 3|, by manipulation of the valve handle 34. The oor need not be moistened prior to operation of the machine, since the action of the water or other liquid fed through the conduit 3| quickly softens the dirt to such an extent that it may be removed from the surface of the door by the combined action of the sponge rubber pad and the sawdust contained therein. As heretofore stated, the sponge rubber exerts an erasure effect on the floor, rubbing oiT the dirt and surface layer of wax, if any, and the sawdust acts both as a mild abrasive and as an absorbing medium for the dirt containing moisture.

The action of the sawdust and sponge rubber is such that only a thin surface coating of wax is removed from the floor together with the contained dirt and the major portion of the moisture and dirt so removed is absorbed into the moist sawdust. The machine may be operated over the oor at a comparatively high speed so that the cleaning operation is rapid and may be effected by a single operator. Only a small amount of moisture is employed and this is applied to a small surface only of the floor at a time and is absorbed therefrom by the sawdust after a very brief interval so that there is substantially no opportunity for the water to soak into the door or to work into the seams between the individual blocks, in the case of a composite floor covering. Moreover, no alkali detergents are employed so that the usual detrimental effect of such scouring mediums is completely avoided. If desired, the machine may be followed by a comparatively dry mop so as to remove any dirt and moisture which may not have been completely absorbed by the sawdust.

It is to be understood that the particular type of machine shown is by way of illustration only, since obviously the sponge rubber pad with its inlays of sawdust may be used in any type of rotary or reciprocating cleaning machine. It is further understood that the sponge rubber pad may take other shapes than that shown and may be provided with either a greater or lesser number of recesses or pockets for the sawdust or other absorbing medium. Therefore, I do not desire to be limited to the details of the particular embodiment herein disclosed, but contemplate all variations thereof coming within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A floor cleaning member, adapted for use with a machine of the type employing a traveling carriage having operating mechanism carried thereby for imparting movement to the cleaning member relative to said carriage, comprising a pad of sponge rubber having an exposed floor engaging surface, said surface having recesses therein for loosely retaining a replaceable dirt absorbing and mild abrading medium, such as sawdust, said medium being retained in said recess by contact of said pad with the floor being cleaned.

2. A floor cleaning member, adapted for use with a machine of the type employing a traveling carriage having operating mechanism carried thereby for imparting movement to the cleaning member relative to said carriage, comprising a pad of porous, resilient exposed rubber portions and intermediate recesses between said exposed portions for loosely retaining a replaceable mass of absorbing and abrading material, such as sawdust, said medium being retained in said recess by contact of said pad with the floor being cleaned.

3. A oor cleaning member, adapted for use with a machine of the type employing a traveling carriage having operating mechanism carried thereby for imparting movement to the cleaning member relative to said carriage, comprising a pad of sponge rubber having an exposed floor engaging surface, said surface having recesses therein for loosely retaining an absorbing and mild abrading medium, such as sawdust, said medium being retained in said recess by contact of said pad with the door being cleaned and means for feeding a moistening liquid to said cleaning member.

4. A floor cleaning member, adapted .for use with a machine of the type employing a traveling carriage having operating mechanism carried thereby for imparting movement to thc cleaning member relative to said carriage, comprising a disc of sponge rubber having an exposed fioor engaging surface, said surface having a plurality of recesses therein for loosely retaining a mass of an absorbent abrading material such as sawdust, said medium being retained in said recess by contact of said pad with the oor being cleaned.

5. A floor cleaning member, adapted for use with a machine of the type employing a traveling carriage having operating mechanism carried thereby for imparting movement to the cleaning member relative to said carriage, comprising a pad having a solid outer exposed floor cleaning member relative to said carriage, com- 10 prising a disc of sponge rubber having an exposed floor engaging surface, said surface having recesses therein for loosely retaining an absorbent abrading material such as sawdust, said medium being retained in said recess by Contact of said pad with the floor being cleaned and means for feeding a moistening fluid to the floor beneath said cleaning member.

JOHN T. HARRISON. 

